COSTA MESA – The charter city proposal, outsourcing and councilman-called news conferences were the hot topics Wednesday night as the sharply divided City Council candidates took to the stage at the Feet to the Fire Forum.

Challengers Harold Weitzberg, Sandy Genis and John Stephens took on council incumbents Steve Mensinger and Gary Monahan, along with challenger Colin McCarthy, on most of the issues.

The questions came from media representatives Frank Mickadeit of The Orange County Register, Roger Bloom of the Newport Beach Independent and John Canalis and Jack Wu of the Daily Pilot. Register columnist Barbara Venezia moderated the forum at the Costa Mesa Community Center.

Mickadeit jumped in first, asking candidates why they would oppose contracting out some city services.

SHOULD COSTA MESA BE A CHARTER CITY?

Weitzberg and Genis both expressed concerns with contracting out city services. Weitzberg focused on the cost, while Genis questioned the safety of contracting out emergency first-responder services.

"Before you jump off the high board, you need to be sure there's water in the pool," the former councilwoman said.

Stephens, who has fought the charter city plan, questioned why the Costa Mesa charter didn't include provisions for bidding on public contracts or an independent audit.

Mensinger told the audience that ordinances are already in place for bidding and audits.

Without adding the bidding provisions and independent audit to the charter, a future council could make changes, Genis argued.

"We hope these will be honorable people, but we don't know for sure," she said.

Costa Mesa should have become a charter city years ago, McCarthy said, to regain control from Sacramento and save funds by not paying union wages. He encouraged residents to read the charter, which is nine pages long. He also said he hadn't heard anyone say Costa Mesa would outsource its public safety, adding that the city signed a new firefighter contract on Tuesday night.

Venezia asked the candidates, some of whom are on the council, if they regretted the way Costa Mesa had given out layoff notices in March 2011. Bloom noted that Newport Beach is looking into outsourcing but that discussion is going "relatively amicably."

"Do you think you guys made a mistake by being the bull in the china shop charging ahead?" Bloom said.

"Yes. I've been part of the problem and I'm part of the solution," Monahan said, adding that Newport Beach is a charter city and outsourcing is easier.

Related Links

Costa Mesa City Council candidates Harold Weitzberg, left, Colin McCarthy, Councilman Steve Mensinger, Sandy Genis, Councilman Gary Monahan and John Stephens attend the Feet to the Fire Forum on Wednesday at the Costa Mesa Community Center. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Harold Weitzberg, candidate for Costa Mesa City Council, speaks at the Feet to the Fire Forum on Wednesday as candidate Colin McCarthy listens behind him. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Costa Mesa Councilman Steve Mensinger, left, talks about what happened at the last council meeting as City Council candidate Sandy Genis listens during the Feet to the Fire Forum on Wednesday. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Community members fill the auditorium at the Costa Mesa Community Center as City Council candidates debate on stage during the Feet to the Fire Forum. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
John Stephens, candidate for Costa Mesa City Council, talks during the Feet to the Fire Forum at the Costa Mesa Community Center on Wednesday. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Colin McCarthy, candidate for Costa Mesa City Council, talks during the Feet to the Fire Forum at the Costa Mesa Community Center on Wednesday. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Community members fill the auditorium at the Costa Mesa Community Center as City Council candidates debate during the Feet to the Fire Forum. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Sandy Genis, candidate for Costa Mesa City Council, pauses during the Feet to the Fire debate at the Costa Mesa Community Center. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Costa Mesa City Council candidates Harold Weitzberg, left, Colin McCarthy, Councilman Steve Mensinger, Sandy Genis, Councilman Gary Monahan and John Stephens at the Feet to the Fire Forum at the Costa Mesa Community Center on Wednesday. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Cindy Black holds a sign showing her displeasure with the "3 Ms" ahead of the Costa Mesa Community Center for the Feet to the Fire Forum on Wednesday night. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Councilman Gary Monahan attends the Feet to the Fire Forum at the Costa Mesa Community Center. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Costa Mesa Councilman Steve Mensinger attends the Feet to the Fire Forum at the Costa Mesa Community Center. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER
Harold Weitzberg, candidate for Costa Mesa City Council, at the Feet to the Fire debate at the Costa Mesa Community Center. STEVEN GEORGES, FOR THE REGISTER

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